The escalating prices of potatoes, retailing at Rs 38 per kilogram, are significantly impacting households in Kolkata, leading to budget constraints in kitchen expenses. The prevalent Jyoti variety, now priced between Rs 35 to Rs 38 per kilogram, has witnessed a notable surge from Rs 20 per kilogram just a month ago. Consequently, the price gap between the more premium Chandramukhi variety and Jyoti has narrowed down to Rs 5 from Rs 10 to Rs 15. Traders attribute this price hike to the widening demand-supply gap exacerbated by erratic weather patterns that disrupted seed sowing processes, resulting in a production shortfall.
The disruption caused by climate change has severely affected potato cultivation in Bengal. Untimely rains damaged the initial batch of seeds, compelling farmers to undertake replanting efforts. However, the subsequent sowing has not mitigated their challenges, yielding a smaller crop size and reduced output this year.
While some traders opine that a slight reduction in current retail prices may be feasible, the market dynamics have seen fluctuations in pricing. Prior to the recent price surge, Jyoti potatoes were being retailed at around Rs 27 to Rs 28 per kilogram before elections. Post-storage, the market rates escalated from Rs 16 to Rs 17 per kilogram to Rs 22 per kilogram, inclusive of additional costs such as storage rentals amounting to Rs 6 to Rs 7 per kilogram.
Reports from the Cold Storage Association indicate that approximately 45 lakh tonnes of potatoes are currently stored across 475 cold storage facilities in the state, out of a total storage capacity of 67 lakh tonnes recorded last year. Notably, there is a current storage requirement of 700,000 tonnes, with 500,000 tonnes earmarked for seed purposes. The Progressive Potato Traders Association highlights a marginal increase of 1% to 2% in the release of potatoes from cold storage compared to previous years, prompting concerns about retail pricing discrepancies.
The Cold Storage Owners’ Association president, Baren Mondal, raised the prospect of government intervention in cases of suspected hoarding practices to regulate the market. Farmers like Kesab Ghosh express dismay over diminished yields from subsequent plantings, resulting in reduced potato sizes and overall production.
In efforts to address the situation, merchants and cold storage owners have urged the government to consider purchasing smaller potatoes bundled in 50 kg packets. Despite early openings of cold storage facilities in April to alleviate price pressures, wholesale rates remain uncontrolled, currently ranging between Rs 26 to Rs 28 per kilogram. The procurement process involves intermediary wholesalers and local traders, contributing to the sorting out of small, medium, and lower-quality potatoes, further driving up consumer prices. Retail traders at Koley Market emphasize sourcing selected potatoes from Hooghly and Burdwan regions, with higher-quality produce incurring additional costs.
